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Aleksandar Rakic def. Justin Ledet at UFC Hamburg: Best photos

Rakic (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) mauled Ledet (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) throughout and handed Ledet the first loss of his pro career. Rakic won with scores of 30-25 and a pair of 30-24s. The UFC announced after the fight he set a new light heavyweight record for strike differential at +235 with a final tally of 263-28.

The light heavyweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC Fight Night 134 event at Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, Germany. It aired on FS1 following additional prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of the main card on FS1.

“The game plan was low kicks, cut the angle – Cain Velasquez-style, like my coaches told me,” Rakic said. “Pushing forward, pressure, pressure, pressure. I’m here to stay and I’m here to prove I belong at the top. Give me a top-15 guy. I’m ready. In my first fight, I couldn’t show so much grappling and wrestling. In this second fight, I showed it. I’m a well-rounded fighter. I’m ready. Remember my name: I’m coming.”

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Rakic landed some heavy hands early, then went to work on Ledet’s lead leg with a trio of kicks. Ledet dropped for a takedown, but Rakic defended it and took the fight to the canvas himself on top. Ledet struggled to find a way to get back to his feet while Rakic landed short punches and moved to half-guard. Ledet recovered to full guard, but had to eat some hard right hands trying to work back to his feet. Rakic stayed heavy on top, then postured up for some big punches and elbows, but couldn’t get the finish despite a late flurry.

Rakic again landed some solid punches early in the second round, then went back to work with the kicks to the lead leg. He slipped a Ledet punch, then drilled away with a combo. Ninety seconds in, Rakic landed a kick to the lead leg that was so hard it took Ledet off his feet. Rakic went straight to the canvas with him and the scene looked the same as the first frame.

Ledet eventually had to scramble away from the punches and nearly gave his back. Rakic dropped more ground-and-pound on him, and it forced Ledet to look for a leg submission. But Rakic easily scrambled back to his feet to avoid it, then dropped right back down to put Ledet in trouble again.

Ledet landed three straight left jabs early in the final round. It forced Rakic to look for a takedown. And though Ledet defended it initially, Rakic dropped him a moment later with a punch. Rakic then tripped him back down and again went to work on the canvas. With two minutes left, Ledet tried to get out, but to no avail. He got to his feet late, but it was an utterly dominant performance from Rakic.